A great animated conversation led by Brett King with Richard Turrin, Theo Lau, and Efi Pylarinou 

Breaking Banks Podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mhqSxyBCHZ1wTQwXlAvCG

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-banks/id641357669

#deepseek #banking #fintech #efipylarinou #ai #disruption 

#credit #fintech #AI #collections #CX

A thought-provoking discussion with Hans Zahar, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Nutun (Africa Tech Award Winner 2023), as we explore the evolving landscape of Customer service in scaled fintech operations.

In this comprehensive conversation, discover:

• How financial inclusion creates new challenges in Customer Service especially for scaled up Fintechs 
• The delicate balance between technological efficiency and human connection
• Emerging trends and several concrete ways to leverage AI in customer engagement, from collections to fraud detection
• South Africa's unique position in delivering empathy-driven BPO services globally

Hans Zachar joined Nutun in March 2023 with 19 years of technology experience across multiple industries including financial services, telco, retail and insurance. Hans previously served as the Chief Product Officer for TransUnion Africa with the responsibility of developing and maintaining innovative customer engagement and credit risk management solutions leveraging the latest digital and analytics technologies. Hans also held the role of Managing Director of Technology Strategy at Accenture specializing in technology led business transformation, having led several major transformation initiatives across the Africa continent.

In this insightful conversation kicking off the 2025 series with fintech veteran, Spiros Margaris, we delve into the Fintech evolution. Spiros is one of the few people that is involved in both the Private markets (as a venture capitalist) and the Public Markets with two AMCs - one in AI and another in Fintech.

Spiros Margaris, founder of Margaris Ventures, is an award-winning fund manager and a prolific venture capitalist—notably advising two unicorns and serving on multiple boards. He oversees top actively managed, publicly listed AI and FinTech stock funds, an achievement that earned him the Swiss Derivative Award for the “Margaris No. 1 AI Basket.” As a venture partner in SparkLabs Group’s AI fund—part of SparkLabs’ global network of 14+ funds and over 550 startup investments—he drives innovation for AI startups worldwide, notably through the AIMX accelerator in Riyadh.

www.margarisventures.com

#fintech #VC #investments #AI #impact #fintechinsights #efipylarinou 

#payments #fintech #banking #GPUs #AI #artificialIntelligence 

An insightful discussion with industry leaders Paul Chang, Head of Payment Networks at AWS, and Pahal Patangia, Head of Business Development for Payments at NVIDIA on the innovative AI workflow for fraud detection that's available on AWS.

Paul Chang https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-chang-85371414/
Pahal Patangia https://www.linkedin.com/in/pahal/

How are financial services providers transforming customer communication with Rich Communication Services (RCS) and the integration of advanced messaging platforms like WhatsApp? Discover the varying adoption patterns across regions from Latin America to APAC, Middle East, and Western markets.

Learn about the significant role of RCS in the banking industry, the impact of Apple's adoption of RCS standards, and how generative AI and rich messaging channels can democratize intelligence in financial services.

Ivan shares unique insights from InfoBip's global research, discussing the paradox of integrating technologies to enhance customer interactions while other departments aim to reduce them. Dive into this fascinating conversation and understand the emerging trends and future of conversational banking.

Ivan Ostojić   / ivan-ostojic  is Infobip's Chief Business Officer, driving strategy, growth, and innovation. A former McKinsey Partner, he co-founded its Global Technology Council. Ivan focuses on tech-driven business innovation, M&A, and transforming customer experiences through cutting-edge solutions.

#fintech #rcs #banking #fintechinsights 

#fintech #UPI #payments #technology #freetrade

In this engaging episode, Efi Pylarinou interviews Tanvi Singh, a former financial expert at UBS and current founder of Nirmata.ai VC. They discuss the new free trade agreement between Switzerland and India, focusing on its commercial and financial implications, including a $100 billion investment and the creation of a million jobs in India. The conversation also explores India's open architecture UPI, blockchain technologies, and the future of digital finance. Tanvi shares insights on India's booming fintech sector, the role of Swiss investments, and the potential regulatory changes that could open up new markets for cryptocurrencies and blockchain solutions.

Tanvi Singh is an accomplished technology and transformation executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the banking and financial sectors. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Nirmata-ai Ventures, she is spearheading a $60M fund designed to connect India's deep-tech startups with European markets, leveraging her extensive global network and cross-cultural expertise. Tanvi’s career is marked by pioneering innovations, including the development of the first public Ethereum tokenization platform and leading AI ethics and data science initiatives at Swiss banking giants. A recognized thought leader, she actively contributes to the global blockchain and AI communities, serving on various boards and advocating for the transformative role of technology in shaping the future.

It is all about Energy nowadays, isn't it? Whether we talk about GenAI, Crypto, Blockchains, or Supply chains. 

In this episode, host Efi Pylarinou sits down with Irina Heaver, a seasoned lawyer and partner at NeosLegal in Dubai, to discuss her incredible journey from the oil and gas sector to becoming a prominent figure in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. 

Irina shares insights into the regulatory landscape for digital assets, how Dubai has swiftly become a global hub for fintech, and the critical role of government policies in fostering innovation. Don't miss this deep dive into the legal and technological advancements shaping the financial world and the way we are governed. 

The Crypto Lawyer, Managing Partner | NeosLegal

Irina Heaver is the leading Crypto lawyer based in Dubai and Switzerland, representing clients worldwide. She is highly regarded internationally for her extensive experience and deep technical knowledge of blockchain, Web3, and cryptocurrency matters. Irina advises across the value chain in the blockchain space, including multinational companies and protocol developers, issuers of tokens, DeFi and blockchain infrastructure projects, such as tokenisation platforms, cryptocurrency exchanges, payment providers, and funds investing in Web3 ventures. 

Irina has consulted multiple Governments and Regulators on policies surrounding emerging technology and has drafted crypto-related laws and regulations. Her nearly two decades of experience — accrued as a partner in a law firm, in-house as a regional General Counsel, and as a co-founder of a regional crypto exchange — have led her to advise on over USD $500 billion worth of projects and transactions in the oil & gas, mining, construction, maritime, and technology sectors.

 Irina’s expertise is supporting crypto entrepreneurs with legally compliant Project launches, token issuance, capital formation and growth, leveraging her vast network in the Middle East and Europe.

#crypto #dubaibusiness #business #dubai #cryptocurrency #blockchain #fintech #fintechinsights #digitalcurrency  

#embeddedfinance #fintech #fintechinsider #fintechinsights #business #finance 

A comprehensive discussion with seasoned financial professional Wasim Mushtaq exploring the evolving mindset required for leaders in today's financial landscape compared to a decade ago. 

We delve into topics such as digital transformation, the rise of fintech, the blurring of industry lines, and the importance of having an adaptable strategy. Wasim highlights the challenges and opportunities in improving operational efficiency, leveraging technology, and fostering innovation. The episode wraps up with thoughts on the future disruptions in financial services and the importance of continuous change.

Wasim Mushtaq has nearly two decades of leadership experience in financial services, driving operational excellence and strategic transformation across global banks and startups. He is currently Managing Director of 1CG, Strategic Partner to Birdie, and serves on the advisory boards of BankAbility and the Operational Excellence Society. His career includes roles at Abbey National, RBS, and Barclays Wealth Management, where he led credit operations and launched Smart Investor. He has also held consultancy roles at Barclays Private Bank, focusing on system decommissioning, platform implementations, and structural reform.In fintech, Wasim served as Director of Operations at AskIf, launching CBILS with the British Business Bank and spearheading SME green finance initiatives. At Standard Chartered, he oversaw global transformation in Financial Markets across 45 regulatory markets. Most recently, he was Interim COO of CFIT (Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology), advancing coalitions and partnerships in finance and technology. He holds a Master’s in Economics from the University of Glasgow and executive certificates from Oxford’s Saïd Business School and MIT Sloan. His expertise spans business strategy, digital transformation, lending, regulatory compliance, and corporate innovation.

#fintech #finance #financialservices #fintechinsights #finance #digitaltransformation

#digital #fintech #banking #transformation

A fascinating discussion with fintech veteran Frank Schwab from the early days of fintech, Frank's experience co-founding FinTech Forum, and his advisory roles with various banks across Germany, the Gulf region, and beyond. 
Frank shares his views on digital transformation in banking, the role of cryptocurrencies, AI advancements, and challenges in data quality. 
The conversation also touches on notable banking case studies and speculates on future trends and disruptors in the fintech landscape.

Case Studies mentioned: 
Charles Schwab, US
Mashreq Bank, UAE
Sohar International Bank, Oman
Advanzia Bank, Germany

FrankSchwab https://frankschwab.de/ is a strategic advisor and co-founder of FinTech Forum Frankfurt 🇩🇪, a member of the Board of Directors at Gulf International Bank, Bahrain 🇧🇭 for PIF 🇸🇦, member of the Supervisory Board at Addiko Bank,Vienna 🇦🇹, a member of the Supervisory Board of Hauck & Aufhäuser Innovative Capital, Frankfurt 🇩🇪, and a LinkedIn Top Voice.

His main areas of expertise are innovation in technology, digital transformation, banking,FinTech, and cryptocurrencies.

With Fidor, Frank wonCelent’s Model Bank of the Year award in 2015. He was named one of the TopMinds in Digital Finance in Germany in 2020. Under his leadership as Chairman of the Innovation Committee at Gulf International Bank, the bank won more than ten innovation awards in digital banking.

Previously, Frank Schwab served as Chairman of Advanced Bitcoin Technologies, Managing Director ofToken, Managing Director of GIZS (paydirekt / Sparkassen), CEO of Fidor TecSAG, Chairman of Hufsy in Copenhagen 🇩🇰, Senior Advisor at McKinsey, a member of the Technology Advisory Board of Sberbank, Moscow 🇷🇺, a member of the Advisory Board of SONECT, Zurich 🇨🇭, and Director ofInnovation for Deutsche Bank.

He has also lectured for several years on Creativity and Innovation Management at Mannheim Business School.